New Delhi, Sept. 18 -- India on Friday rejected Pakistan's allegation that an Indian Navy warship caused a collision with a Pakistani naval vessel in the Arabian Sea, saying the incident resulted from a "dangerous" overtaking manoeuvre by PNS Hunain that violated a 1991 bilateral agreement and international maritime rules. The collision took place on September 15 in the North Arabian Sea, with India maintaining that it occurred in international waters, while Pakistan has claimed it happened inside its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) during its SEASPARK-26 naval exercise.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said INS Kolkata, a stealth guided missile destroyer, was on routine deployment in the western Arabian Sea when the Pakistani vessel approached it at high speed.
"We reject the allegations and insinuations contained therein," Jaiswal said, describing Islamabad's response to India's diplomatic protest as "usual prevarication".
According to India, PNS Hunain's manoeuvre breached Article 10 of the 1991 Agreement Between India and Pakistan on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Maneuvers and Troop Movements, which requires naval units at sea to maintain a minimum separation of three nautical miles. Jaiswal also said the Pakistani ship violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
India summoned Pakistani Charge d'Affaires Saad Warraich on Wednesday and lodged a protest. Pakistan subsequently summoned Indian Charge d'Affaires Satyanjal Pandey and accused INS Kolkata of making "aggressive" and "highly provocative" manoeuvres.
Jaiswal said INS Kolkata suffered no major damage and remains at sea. Reports said PNS Hunain was damaged and returned to port. India has advised Pakistan to ensure military units exercise due care and follow bilateral agreements to prevent similar incidents.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.